Punch head slidably mounted on a frame



Dec. 13, 1955 s. SEGAL 2,726,721

PUNCH HEAD SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON A FRAME Filed 0Gl..` 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l v. n." .1., l

Dec. 13, 1955 5 SEGAL 2,726,721

PUNCH HEAD SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON A FRAME Filed 001.. 2l, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /fl 5@ 15 3@ l5 2\ t 27 .3@ 2@ 7]' 25 32 j 35 24 36 ,t 35 5 33 j@ Z9 5 3 34 u 1Q 32 17 3@ ///lll e0 li i il 3 2@ 32 l@ 3 l United States Patent Oice 2,726,721 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 PUNCH HEAD SLIDABLY MUNTED N A FRAME Samuel Segal, New York, N. Y., assigner to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, lli., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 21, 1952, Serial No. 315,911

Claims. (Cl. 164-119) This invention relates to a hand punch for perforating sheets of paper or similar material.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a sturdy, inexpensive punch that may be easily assembled. Another object is to provide a punch head that may be used as an independent unit to make single perforations, or may be mounted on a suitable frame to be used with other similar punch heads to make a plurality of accurately spaced perforations. lt is a further object of the invention to provide a frame and punch head with means facilitating the accurate lateral adjustment of the punch heads relative to the frame that will hold them securely in place against accidental displacement.

The structure of the present invention by means of which the above and other advantages are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a punch embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on a horizontal plane along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on a vertical plane along the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the punch;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 5 5 of Figure l, showing the punch pin in normal, elevated position;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional View, similar to Figure 5, showing the punch pin in depressed position;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View, taken along the line 7 7 of Figure l;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 7, with adjoining portions of the frame shown in top elevation;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the punch pin;

Figure l0 is a perspective view of the locking plate; and

Figure ll is a perspective view of a punch head adapted to be used as a separate unit to make single perforations.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a channei-shape frame open at its bottom and having a top wall 3, front wall 4, rear wall 5, and end walls 6 and 7. The top wall 3 is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot 8 and a plurality of parallel notches 9 extending from the edge adjacent the slot 8 towards the front wall 4. The notches 9 may be spaced in any desired manner, but preferably are spaced in accordance with the standard distances generally used for spacing perforations in sheets of paper of various widths. The front wall 4 is preferably provided with indicia 10 stamped in registration with each notch 9 to indicate the spacing between the punch pins when the punch heads are positioned adjacent the particular notches. The mounting of the punch heads on the frame 2 will be hereinafter described.

Y The punch heads 11 are duplicates, so only one will be described. The punch head includes an open ended shell 12 formed by bending a strip of metal to provide a bottom wall 13, a rear wall 14, a top wall 15, a front wall 16, and an intermediate wall 17 parallel to the bottom wall and spaced thereabove to provide a throat 18 into which may be inserted the sheets 19 to be perforated. The lower portion of rear wall 14 traverses the vertical gap between bottom Wall 13 and intermediate wall 17 to form a fixed back 20 for the throat to limit the distance sheets 19 may be inserted into the throat. The shell 12 fits slidably within the frame 2 with the bottom surface of intermediate wall 17 llush with the lower edge of the frame. The forward edge of lower wall 13 extends a slight distance forwardly of the front wall 4 of the frame, as indicated at 21, to facilitate insertion of sheets 19 into the throat 1S. A

The punch head 11 is provided with an outer shell 22 which tits slidably around the outer surface of the frame 2. The outer shell comprises a bottom wall 23, a rear wall 24, a top wall 25, and a front wall 26 the lower edge of which is flush with the lower edge of the front wall 4 of the frame 2. The top walls 15 and 25 of the inner and outer shells are provided with apertures 27 and 28 which are in registration with each other and with the slot 8 in the top wall of frame 2. The intermediate wall 17, and the bottom walls 13 and 23 of the inner and outer shells, are provided with apertures 29, 30, and 31, respectively, in registration with the apertures 27 and 28.

A pressure plate 32, provided with an aperture 33, of substantially the same size as apertures 27, 28, 29 and 30, is positioned within the inner shell 12 adjacent the top wall thereof, with the aperture 33 aligned with the other apertures. A coiled compression spring 34 is positioned within the inner shall 12 with its lower edge bearing against the top surface of intermediate Wall 17. The spring 34 is also aligned with the apertures and a punch pin 35 is` inserted through apertures 27 and 28, slot 8, and the compression spring. The punch pin 35 is provided with an enlarged button 36 rigidly secured to its top end, to facilitate the application of finger pressure to the punch pin. The punch pin also has a peripheral groove 37 spaced so that it lies in a plane just below the underside of the top wall 15 of inner frame 12 when the bottom of the punch pin is in the aperture 29.

The pressure plate 32 is forced down against the action of spring 34 and a locking plate 38 is slid between the pressure plate and the underside of top wall 15. 'I'he locking plate 38 is provided with a laterally extending recess 39 of substantially the same width as the diameter of the grooved portion of the punch pin so that the edges of the locking plate adjacent the recess will lit snugly into the groove 37. The pressure plate 32 is pro` vided adjacent one side with a pin 40 which projects upwardly from its top surface, and locking plate 38 is pro-A vided with an aperture 41 of substantially the same diameter as the pin 40. When the locking plate is moved to its proper position, in which its edge defining the inner edge of recess 39 engages the notch 37, the aperture 41 is aligned with the pin 40 and the action of spring 34 will snap the pin into engagement with the aperture. The top wall 15 of the inner frame is also provided with an aperture 42, aligned with the aperture 41 in this position, and the pin 40 extends upwardly into aperture 42. The locking plate 38 is thus held securely in engagement with the groove 37 of punch pin 35 so that when the punch pin is depressed the locking plate moves with it and carries the pressure plate 32 downwardly, thereby compressing spring 34. When the pressure is removed from the botton 36 the spring 34 reverses the movement and forces the punch pin back up to its normal, elevated position.

The locking plate 38 is provided at one lateral edge with an upturned lug 43 which extends parallel to the notches 9 and lits into any said notch with which it is aligned. When it is desired to adjust the lateral position rection.

Vof any punch head the punch pin is depressed to free the lug 43 from the notch 9 withrwhich it is engaged, and the punch head may then be easily slid in either lateraldi- The pressure on the punch pin is released when the lug 43 approaches the desired notch, and when the lug is aligned therewith it moves upwardly underV the pressure of spring 34 into engagement with the notch. The punch head is securely held against accidental displacement because it can not be movedlaterally until the punch pin is depressed to disengage the lug from the notch. The bottom walls 23 of the outer shells of the two punch heads normally mounted on the frame 2 serve as a base to support the punch in use. The end wall 6 extends downwardly below the front wall 4 of the frame 2, as indicated at 44, to form a side gage at one end of the punch. The forward edgeof the side gage preferably extends a short distance forwardly of the frame 2 so that the edge of Vthe Vsheet being perforated may be more easily aligned therewith. The lower edge of the side gage 44 is bent laterally in theV same plane as the bottom walls 23of the outer shell 22, as indicated at 45, to provide an additional point of support for the base of the punch.

In Figure 11 I have shown a punch head 11 adapted to be used as an independent unit without being mounted on a frame 2.V The punch head is a duplicate of that prei viously described except that it is not provided with an outer shell 22. It is desirable to provide the outer shell when the punch head is mounted on the frame because Vit gives theV punch a more finished appearance and also facilitates lateral adjustment of the punch heads on the frame by providing space for an arrowhead 46 to call attention of the user to the indicia 1i? and to indicate which edge of the front wall of the outer frame should be positioned adjacent the indicia to Yproperly position the punch head.

k The operation of theV punch is very simple. The button 36 of Veach punch head is depressed, and the punch head` is slid in either direction while the buttonV is held down. When the edge of the outer casing indicates that the punch head is nearing its desired position, the pressure vis released from the button and the spring 34`moves the locking plate 38 upwardly until the top of lug 43 engages the underside of the portion of top wall 3. The

Y sliding movement of the punch head is continued Yuntil the lug 43 is aligned vertically with the notch 9. The spring 34 forces the lug into the notch, and thereby prevents further lateral movement of the punch head. p

After both punch heads are set in the desired lateral relationship the punch is placed on Vthe top of a desk, table or similar surface, and is firmlyk supported by the bottom walls 23 of the outer shell and the bottom Wall 45 of the. side gage. The sheets to be perforated are inserted in the throats 1S and are pushed towards the side gage 44 to align them therewith. The punch pins are depressed to perforate the sheets, and the intermediate wall 17 of the inner shell actsas a stripper plate. It three peroratons are desired in the sheets, the sheetsV are removed from the punch after the first two perforations are made, and then reinserted in reversed position so that the punch pin nearest the side gage is operated twice to punch both outer perforations. This arrangement enables a short punch having only two punch heads to make three properly spaced perforations along the edge of a comparatively long sheet. Four perforations may also be provided in the same manner. Y

VAlthough I have described a preferred embodiment of n the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative,

Y rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the, exact details Yof construction described.

' lclaimz,

1. A punch comprising a frame and a punch head slidably mounted on said frame, said punch head including a lil spaced means selectively Vengageable with said lug in' a plurality of predetermined'V positions to prevent lateral movement of said punch head relative to said frame.

2. A punch comprising a channel-shaped frame provided with a top wall having a plurality of notches spaced at predetermined intervals, a punch head slidablymounted on said frame, said punch headhaving a plate positioned adjacent said top wall and a punch pin projecting through said plate, a spring urging said plate upwardly against said top wall, and a lug projecting from said plate into selective engagement with said notches to hold said punch`v head Y top and bottom walls of both shells and the intermediate i against lateral'movement relative Vto said frame.

3. A punch comprising a channel-shape trame open at its bottom and having a top wall provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot, and a punch head slidably mounted on said frame, said punch head comprising an inner shell positioned within said channel-shape frame, an outer shell extending transversely around the Youter surface of said frame, and a punch piny extending through said slot and through apertures provided in both of said shells.

4. A punch comprising a channel-shape frame open at its bottom and having a top wall provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot, said top -wall having a plurality of parallel notches adjacent one longitudinal edge of said slot, a punch head slidably mountedk on said frame, said punch head comprising an inner shell positioned within said channel-shape frame, an outer shell extending transversely around the outer surface of said frame, a punch pin extending through said slot andY through apertures provided in both of said shells, a plate mounted within said inner shell and movable verticallyk with said punch pin,A and a spring urging said *plate upwardly against said top wall, said plate having an upstanding lug engageable with said notches toV hold said punch head against lateral movement relative to sai frame.

5. A punch comprising a channel-shape frame open at its bottom and having a'top wall provided with a centrally disposedV longitudinally extending slot, and a punchV head ,n

slidably mounted on said frame, said punch head comprising an inner shell having-a top wall, a front wall and n rear wall within said frame adjacent the corresponding walls of said frame, an intermediate Wall parallel to said top wall, and a bottom wall spaced below the bottom of said frame in a planeV parallel to said ytop and intermediate walls, an outer shell having a top wall, a front wall and a rear wall closely embracing the corresponding walls of said frame, and a bottom wall juxtaposed against the bottom surface of the bottom wall of said inner shell, ther wall of the inner shell being provided with aligned apertures, a punch pin extending through said slot in align- ,ment with said apertures, and means locking' said punch pin in engagement with said inner shell.

References Cited'n the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

